LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

—'a* I 

UNITED STATES OF AMEEICA. 



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INTO THE SUNSHINE 



OTHER POEMS. 



AELLA GREENE, 

AUTHOR OK 

" Khyynes of Yankee Land." 



BOSTON : 
LEE & SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS 

NEW YORK: 
CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM. 

1881. 




75 174^ 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1881, by 

AELLA GREENE, 
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



THE SPRINGFIELD PRINTING COMPANY, 

ELECTROTYPERS, PRINTERS AND BINDERS, 

SPRINGFIELD, MASS. 



CONTENTS 



•-•-• 

PAGE. 

•• Bkight on your Native Hills," 9 

•' Where the Noble Have their Country," .11 

The Beauty of Helping, '13 

" She Placed the Bitter Sweet," 15 

The Lessons of the Seasons, 18 

'' Which Hymns New England's Praise," 21 

" Come, Happy Bird," 24 

For All Like Thee, 26 

WlNSOMENESS AND WORTH 27 

A Heroine, 30 

Of Thee in Song, 31 

Carl Carlton, 33 

The Bay State's Forty-second, .37 

Clark and the Twenty-first 40 

On Memorial Day, 43 

A Hero's Grave, 44 

The Imperial, 45 

William Williams, 47 

The Critics, 49 

The Critic Criticised 51 

Among the Lisbon Hills, 53 

A Golden Day 55 

Our Faith, His Star 57 

Thee and Thine, 59 

Thine, 61 

They Meet Again, 63 



CONTENTS. 



" Too Many Hearts are Sad To-nig 

Anent a Fine Old Town, 

Concerning One You Love 

The Special Charge, . 

The Good-bye, . 

"Wisely Kind, 

Into the Sunshine, 

Always with Thee, 

The Bright Belief, 

The New Joy, . 

Tried and True, 

A Tribute, 



A REMINISCENCE. 



Esteemed Friend : 

The press has informed the public that scholars eminent for their 
learning and bards whom America delights to call her own have given 
commendations concerning specimens of my rhythmic work. To these 
encomiums, which marked with bright significance several days of 1880 
and of the present year, one who feels honored above measure now briefly 
refers, in order to tell you that the praiseful mention by those masters 
of song did not give him joy greater than that inspired by words which 
you spoke to him, long ago, when friends were few. These more recent 
days of benediction he will in future recall with the liveliest emotions 
of gratitude, but of that other day, when you gave cheer, no words of his 
can fully tell, and he borrows better verse than his own to name it a 
day 

" So memorably wonderful and sweet, 
Its power of inspiration lingers still. " 

A. G. 

Springfield, Mass., iSSi. 



IN REMEMBRANCE OF 

TWO, 

WHO ARE BEAUTIFULLY ONE 

AND OF OTHERS LIKE THEM, 

THIS VOLUME 

IS 

RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED. 



"BRIGHT ON YOUR NATIVE HILLS." 

"O RIGHT on your native hills 
The sun benignant beams, 
Perennial down the pleasant slopes 

Still sing the happy streams 
Which feed yon river's tide that 'flows 

In beauty through the vale ; 
Transparent, purling brooks 

Which sing of springs that never fail, 
And grand the mountains stand, as erst, 

When there your kindred dwelt, 
And fresh the mountain winds as airs 

Their fields and flowers felt. 

And ye remain to keep their homes. 
And guard the noble name 



10 " BRIGHT ON YOUR NATIVE HILLS. 

Earned by their share of those grand deeds 

That give New England fame. 
Shines their example, still, as bright 

As beams the golden sun ; 
Flows still their influence as pure 

As mountain waters run. 
So cherish ye the fame they gained. 

And emulate their worth. 
Your names, when ye are gone, shall live 

Perennial in the earth ! 



WHERE THE NOBLE HAVE THEIR 
COUNTRY." 

A BOVE the grandeur of the sunsets 
Which dehght this earthly clime, 
And the brightest of the dawnings 

Breaking o'er the hills of time, 
Is the richness of the radiance 
Of the land beyond the sun. 
Where the noble have their country 
When the work of life is done ; 

With the deep, mysterious problem 
Of their earthly life made plain ; 
. All the bitter turned to sweetness, 
All the losses turned to gain ; 



2 "WHERE THE NOBLE HAVE THEIR COUNTRY. 

And the new life's heavenly rapture 
Far exceeding griefs of this ; 

Earth's hard toiling all forgotten 
In the restfulness of bliss ! 

And the music of their welcome, 

From angelic lyres of gold, 
Shall full often be repeated, 

Yet it never shall grow old ; 
Music grander than earth's noblest. 

Than all eloquence of words. 
And the sweetest of the carols 

Of the gladdest of the birds ! 



THE BEAUTY OF HELPING. 

/^^ OOD friend, if every one observed 

The mandate to be kind, 
If all were courteous as thyself, 

And helpfully inclined, 
How bright a scene this earth would be, 

How light life's burdens prove ; 
How blithe, along life's rugged road. 

Would pilgrims singing move ! 

Sweet resonance of sparkling streams 

Would bless life's desert drear ; 
And birds would sino:, and flowers and fruit 



With fragrance fill the air ! 



14 THE BEAUTY OF HELPING. 

There is no overestimate 

Of kindness to our kind, 
And brightest stars will bless the man 

To helpful ways inclined ! 



SHE PLACED THE BITTER SWEET.' 

'T^O girlhood's home returning, 

She placed the bitter sweet 
Within the grand old mansion, 
Where sunbeams shadows meet. 



And there her voice : " Henceforward 
Be kindness all my theme ; 

With constant hand dispensing. 
The moments to redeem ; 

" Teaching, if I have suffered, 
I would the world be blest ; 

Praying, if I have struggled, 
The weary have good rest. 



l6 ."SHE PLACED THE BITTER SWEET." 

" I thank thee, Heavenly Father — 
My name thou hast kept sweet, 

And, through these bitter trials, 
Hast kept my ways discreet." 

The silver tresses mingling 
Her raven locks among 

Mean more than years ; they index 
Her heart's own sorrows wrung ; 

Of which, most like, she tells not. 

So reticent of grief ; 
As most like she hath suffered 
Too deeply for belief. 

Beyond that first revealing 
She speaks not of her lot ; 



"SHE PLACED THE BITTER SWEET. 1/ 

Hoping her many sorrows 
By earth be all forgot ! 

To girlhood's home returning, 

She placed the bitter sweet 
Within the grand old mansion, 

Where sunbeams shadows meet ! 



THE LESSON OF THE SEASONS. 

T T OW happy, sparkling in the sun, 

Down hills the brooklets sing, 

When April warms the flowers to life 



And birds are on the wing. 



Though fervid glows the solar orb, 

On torrid summer days, 
Yet brief its reign ere earth is blest 

With milder autumn rays. 

Serene October days, how pure. 
How choice the joys ye bring. 

In foliage bright and ripened grain. 
Fulfillment of the spring ! 



THE LESSON OF THE SEASONS. I9 

And welcome is the later sun 

That cheers November's gloom, 
With foretaste, in the dying year. 

Of coming breath and bloom. 

Ye dearest " Indian summer " days, 

Of that brief, golden time. 
Imparting, ere the winter's snows. 

Choice tints to autumn's rime ; 

Though sad the memories that ye bring 

Of wrongs by Indians done, 
Poetic period of the year. 

Live on, while lives the sun ! 

And, sing who will December drear, 
Oft, in its coldest days. 



20 THE LESSON OF THE SEASONS. 

Sweet hours of brightest sunshine come, 
Inspiring warmest praise, 

To Him who, all the seasons through, 

Apportions, with kind care. 
The wind and calm, the rain and snow. 

And varied dark and glare — 

That earth be blest with bud and bloom. 

And yield abundant grain. 
And mortals find each season good. 

With nothing made in vain. 



"WHICH HYMNS NEW ENGLAND'S 
PRAISE/' 

'ITT' HO partial thinks that singing is 

Which hymns New England's praise, 
Go read the nation's history 

Through all its trial days, 
And learn how well New England leads 

In national affairs, 
And, with good faith and loyalty, 

The nation's burdens bears. 

So, then, full fearlessly, with joy, 

Whatever banner flaunt ; 
Do other rebels greet with scorn. 

Or aliens with a taunt ; 



22 '' WHICH HVMNS NEW ENGLAND S PRAISE. 

We '11 sing their name, whose head and heart, 

And never faltering hand, 
Have well upheld the stars and stripes — 

God bless our Yankee land ! 

Oh could I be forgiven, did 

My heart not turn to thee, 
With gratitude and pride, dear land, 

For all thou art to me ! 
Thine atmosphere and scenery, 

Thy present, future, past ; 
Thy trials first, and glory now, 

To last while time shall last ? 

God bless the land where I was born, 

And played, a happy child. 
Ere yet I saw a Southern swamp. 

Or roamed a Western wild ; 



" WHICH HYMNS NEW ENGLAND S PRAISE. 

And where, within a cot among 
The good New England hills, 

My early being was attuned 
By cadence of the rills. 

And in the future of my life, 

Where'er my pathway lies, 
Whatever lot is meted out, 

Or kind, or cold my skies ; 
Still evermore my song, at home. 

Or on a foreign strand, 
Through life, and at the honest hour — 

God bless our Yankee land ! 



''COME, HAPPY BIRD." 

/"^OME, happy bird of sweetest note, 

Blithe bird of brightest wing. 
Of one who close resembles thee, 
Thy choicest matin sing. 

She charms her home, as thou thy bower. 

With liquid warblings sweet. 
And marks each hour with words sincere. 

And winsome ways discreet. 

Sing, bird, so bravely and so well, 
That one who seeks her hand 

Shall be inspired to speak and act 
The bravest in the land. 



"COME, HAPPY BIRD. 2$ 

For only thus shall he attain 

To favor in her eyes, 
Who but withholds, that he may win, 

What he esteems a prize ; 

While hers is modest estimate 

Of worth she may possess, 
As thine, sweet warbler, of thy songs 

His listening ears that bless. 

Come, happy bird, of sweetest note. 

Blithe bird of brightest wing, 
Of one who close resembles thee, . 

Thy choicest matin sing. 



FOR ALL LIKE THEE. 

1\ yr AIDEN discreet, I give thee praise 

For words select and comely ways, 
And wish thee many joyous days. 
And worthy friends. 

May Honor win, by grand address. 
The blissful good of thy caress, 
And True Love come, thy heart to bless. 
And Hope to cheer. 

For all like thee discreetly kind 
May every cloud be silver-lined ; 
For them be thornless roses twined. 



And evergreen ! 



WINSOMENESS AND WORTH. 

f^\ BLEST with innocence and health, 
And wisdom far above thy years, 
Who hast not felt heart-rending griefs, 
Nor wept the bitter, scalding tears, — 

Thou prized by all the excellent, 
Thou light and joy of every home 

Where friendship welcomes thee to call 
Or mercy bids thee helpful come, — 

Exquisite maiden, whose bright ways 
Are pride of her who did thee bear, 

And who, these years, with tender hand, 
Hath nurtured thee with fondest care,- 



28 WINSOMENESS AND WORTH. 

Prize thou thyself, thy parents prize, 
Thy home and all its quiet joys ; 

And keep thee, much as in thee lies, 
From earth's frivolity and noise. 

Cherish the gift of thy good sense. 

And earnest bravery, to keep 
Thy soul from all that causes shame 

And makes the watching angels weep ! 

For thee God grant the kindest skies. 
For thee sincerest, noblest friends ; 

For thee all earth's substantial good. 
And heaven, when earth's ordeal ends. 

For him whose worth deserves thy heart. 
And whose brave ways thy heart shall win, 



WINSOMENESS AND WORTH. 29 

May brightest stars benignant beam, 
For him, and all his noble kin. 

O blest with innocence and health, 

And wisdom far above thy years. 
Thy heart be long unknown to grief, 

And long thine eyes unknowing tears ! 



A HEROINE. 

QERENEST star thy radiance shed 

For one of highest worth, 
A heroine whose life speaks more 
Of heaven than of the earth ; 



One fully fitted for the skies, 

Yet well content to wait. 
And work to bless this world of want, 

And reach her heaven late ! 

Thou calm, sweet star, thy beams find not, 

In any clime of earth. 
More pure unselfishness than this. 

Nor more exalted worth. 



"OF THEE IN SONG." 

'T^RUE wife, sweetheart, the work that comes 

My absence to prolong 
Leaves, still, one sunny hour in which 
To think of thee in song. 

My gratitude, dear one, for prayers 

The Father answers well. 
In bright, perennial hopes, of which 

I have not time to tell ; 

In friends who cheer me at my tasks 

And pray that God will bless. 
Who earnestly and constantly 

Desire me full success ; 



32 "of thee in song. 

In faith to toil with courage on 

And patiently to wait 
For wished rewards ; in faith that God 

From every cruel fate 

Will keep him whom thou lov'st, and send 
From heaven good angels near, 

To cheer and bless the one who holds 
My dear ambitions dear. 



CARL CARLTON. 

A TRUE man is Carl Carlton, 
Who has the night express. 
And one the brightest angels 
Delight to guard and bless. 

And noble is the woman 

Who shares this Carlton's joys, 

And bore, to bless his good heart, 
Four bright-eyed girls and boys. 

It was by gallant action 
He won his lady's heart; 

Not by a wealth of presents. 
Nor by the courtier's art. 



34 CARL CARLTON. 

He was a homely rustic, 
Of twenty years, or so, 

A train man on the night cars, 
A score of years ago. 

The one who then commanded 
Was cowardly and vile, 

And used his place and cunning 
The sinless to beguile ; 

And, with some sporting fellows, 
By praise of voice and curl, 

To jaunt upon the night train, 
Had lured a bright-eyed girl. 

They whispered basest insult 
That brought a blush of shame 



CARL CARLTON. 35 

The brave man saw her peril, 
His eyes with wrath aflame ! 

And as they neared the station, 

And seized to lead away, 
And, pale with fright the maiden 

Began to weep and pray, 

Brave Carlton's quick blows felled them, 

Conductor and his crew, 
And, opening the car door, 

He thrust the villains through ! 

The passengers applauded, 

And they who owned the road. 

Assembled at head-quarters. 
Official praise bestowed. 



36 CARL CARLTON. 

And Carlton was appointed 

The chief man of the train, 
With orders, if it need be. 



To act as brave again. 



A year from this occurrence, 
The hero claimed the heart 

He earned by gallant action 
Above the courtier's art. 

Her parents gave them blessing, 
And wished them golden days, 

And I wish all would copy 
Brave Carlton's noble ways. 



THE BAY STATE'S FORTY-SECOND. 

TT THEN, erst, the nation was besieged 

By armed rebellious foemen^ 
And peace had fled, and skies were dark 

With every direful omen ; 
And Lincoln, from the capitol, 

For aid so wistful beckoned. 
Not least among the men to march 

The Bay state's Forty-second ! 

Now that the din of war is done, 
And glad the war cloud 's risen, 

They come with thought of camp and field, 
And of the rebel prison ! 



38 THE BAY state's FORTY-SECOND. 

They gather here for hearty words, 

In kindly interest spoken 
To make the bands of friendship strong. 

That never may be broken ! 

Should Treason arm again its hosts, 

To fill the land with trouble, 
Her deepest schemes of ill would prove 

An evanescent bubble ; 
For those brave men would rise again 

And march, with others like them. 
To capture quick the forts and guns 

And ever more to spike them. 

And, wishing you much earthly joy, 
And entrance late to heaven, 

I speak this sincere offering, 
In rhythmic numbers given, 



THE BAY STATE S FORTY-SECOND. 39 

By one who deems it pleasant fame 

That he is welcome reckoned, 
A member, in good standing, with 

The Bay state's Forty-second ! 



CLARK AND THE TWENTY-FIRST. 

l^T 7HEN Colonel Clark of Amherst 

Was major in the field, 
Contending, in the South-land, 

To make the rebels yield. 
The general said, " Brave major, 

You and the Twenty-first 
Must charge the rebels yonder, 

Where they will do their worst ! " 

Then prompt the major uttered 
The simple answer " Yes ! " 

And bravely they moved forward 
Whom we delight to bless. 



CLARK AND THE TWENTY-FIRST. 4 1 

There, on the isle of Roanoke, 

Clark and the Twenty-first 
Discomfited the rebels, 

Who did their bitter worst. 

Then, in the rebel stronghold, 

The Bay State flag was placed, 
And bright a starry banner 

The rebel fortress graced. 
And through much more of warring 

Clark and his men were true ; 
They went forth strong a thousand, 

They came a war-worn few ! 

The angels kept the leader 

Who dared the thickest fight 
And fought to hold the colors 

And keep our honor bright. 



42 CLARK AND THE TWENTV^-FIRST. 

Then, much the rebels hated, 
And often, since, have cursed, 

Whom we dehght to honor, 
Clark and the Twenty-first. 

God bless all gallant soldiers 

Who battled for the flag, 
And conquered, in the- South-land, 

Them of the rebel rag ; 
And through our glorious future, 

Be songs to all who, erst. 
In bravery resembled 

Clark and the Twenty-first. 



ON MEMORIAL DAY. 

^/E soldiers of the flag, who fought 

To save the nation's life, 
And home returned with honor's scars, 

When closed the fearful strife, 
As gaze ye on the graves where sleep 

The men with you allied, 
Who fell before the victory came — , 

To honor those who died, 
Your powers and time re-dedicate 

To deeds of noblest worth ; 
That thus your country's flag shall be 

The grandest in the earth. 



A HERO'S GRAVE. 

A CHRISTIAN, comrade, son, and friend 
Is slumbering 'neath this sod ; 
His form is there, his name with us, 
His spirit with his God. 

Fit place it is for hero's grave, 

Where mountain zephyrs play ; 
Where fair ones bring the choicest flowers, 

And good men pause to pray. 

To designate his sepulcher. 

We raise this shaft, but trust 
His deeds shall live when monuments 

Are crumbled into dust. 



THE IMPERIAL. 

T MPERIAL moves the lofty one 

Along the Fashion street, 
His head in pain from hitting stars, 

While boys with laughter greet 
His supercilious presence cold 

And manners of the sky ; 
The common folk award him space. 

And dogs his coming fly ! 

Proud peacocks, jealous of his style, 
Have much discussed a plan 

To free themselves, and rid the earth, 
Of this sublimest man. 



46 THE IMPERIAL. 

May heavenly powers their hatred thwart, 

And cool their mighty ire, 
Spare him from griefs of common men 

And from the final fire ! 

Give him above a lofty seat, 

And caution Gabriel well 
To quench such jealousy as plunged 

Prince Lucifer to hell ; 
Old Lucifer, who fell from power 

At less offending pride 
Than that by which, if this one rise, 

Good Gabriel will be tried ! 



WILLIAM WILLIAMS. 

\T ^HEN William Williams walks abroad 

He trips along so proud, 
And steps so dainty on the street 
Rude people laugh aloud. 

These lines expressive of regret 
That they should think to scorn 

The man for whom the earth was made 
And stars the skies adorn ! 

For whom the Summer solstice burns ; 

For whom the Winter's cold, 
The verdure of the pleasant Spring, 

And Autumn's red and gold ! 



48 WILLIAM WILLIAMS. 

A man of ancient family, 

Whom heraldry correct 
Points backward, to a crown and throne, 

Through ancestry direct. 

And, still, when Williams walks abroad 

He has a gait so proud, 
And steps so dainty on the street, 

The rude will laugh aloud ! 



THE CRITICS. 

'' I ^HE wicked wish some critics have, 

And knack, and greed, to kill, 
May pass quite readily for taste, 
And evidence of skill ; 

But were there none to write a verse. 

Or paragraph of prose, 
How critics then would pass their time. 

Is more than mortal knows. 

They might ascend the upper spheres, 

To criticise the stars, 
And teach good manners and good sense 

To Jupiter and Mars ; 



50 THE CRITICS. 

Then clip away old Saturn's rings 

And set him bounds to run ; 
Or venture near the solar fires, 



To regulate the sun ! 



And should these critics go to Heaven 

Their joy would be to tell 
How saints might tune their harps correct 

And sing hosannas well ! 



THE CRITIC CRITICISED. 

nPHESE lines to tell thee, bards 

Who sing for all the listening land, 
And sages wise and famed, had named 

Felicitous and grand 
The verse on which thou didst 

Invoke an isfnominious fate, 
And, with high scornful wrath, declare 

Unworthy of thy hate ! 

Then thou, with thy gray eyes 

Quick twinkling in their greedy glee, 

And rubbing thy cold palms, didst look. 
Expectant long to see 



52 THE CRITIC CRITICISED. 

Before thee, suppliant still, 

Thy victim bow in further prayer, 

And then his trembling form begin 
Dissolving into aii* ! 

Instead, at equipoise. 

He gazed the while in high delight 
On thy hard face, then left thee there 

All powerless in thy might ! 
Although thou gav'st him joy. 

He does not thank thee for the bliss 
That verse to thee seemed lacking fire ; 

Grim critic, say, does this ? 



AMONG THE LISBON HILLS. 

TO G. H. A. 

nnRUE-HEARTED friend, whose greeting kind 

Transforms the town, to me, 
From busy Babel, to a place 
Of fountain, flower, and tree ; 

From me bear words of cheer to her 

Who taught thee noble ways, 
And say I wish that she may have 

Serenest sunset days 

In Lisbon village, 'mong the hills, 

Where, erst, she taught her boy 
In deeds of gentleness and trust 

To find his highest joy ! 



54 AMONG THE LISBON HILLS. 

And say I pray his noble ways 

Full many more may lead, 
Throughout their lives to bless their kind, 

By helpful word and deed. 

And tell to her my hopes to greet, 

If favoring Heaven wills, 
The mother of my faithful friend, 

Among the Lisbon hills. 



A GOLDEN DAY. 

A /r OST joyous day when kindred, good, 

And old acquaintance dear, 
Assemble with fit tokens, kind. 
And words of hearty cheer, 

To greet and bless the aged pair 

Who fifty years ago, 
Took vows to share each other's lot. 

Or be it joy or woe. 

Ye silvered ones, as ye review 

These fifty toilsome years. 
How brief appear their flitting scenes 

Of varied joys and tears ! 



56 A GOLDEN DAY. 

And yet, with grandest meaning fraught, 

Was golden every day, 
With rest for all the toil, and sun 

To drive each cloud away. 

And, grateful that good Providence 

Hath kept you hitherto, 
We pray the angels guard your steps 

The earthly journey through. 



OUR FAITH, HIS STAR. 

T T OW blessed to believe in men ; 

It lifts us out earth's dust ; 
That which we trust a man to be 
We make the man we trust. 

Our faith his sun succeeding storm, 
Spring after Winter's blast ; 

Heaven's health and peace, when war 
And pestilence are past ; 

Sweet, joy-inspiring airs, to drive 
The desert's torrid breath ; 

Verdure and singing birds in place 
Of barrenness and death ! 



58 OUR FAITH, HIS STAR. 

Our faith for him a star of hope, 

Salvation and its cause ; 
The dispensation following 

The prophets and the laws. 

For him our faith shall bring the good 
Proclaimed by angel song, 

The dawn at night which shall extend 
Through all his years along ! 



THEE AND THINE. 

'T^HE thought of thee and thine gives cheer, 

And aids that I the nobler be ; 
And that thou boldest thine so dear, 

Enhances thee and thine to me : 
Thy mother, sweeter for her years ; 

A sister beaming with delight ; 
And with thee, one whom love endears, 

And clustering offspring good and bright ! 

And when thou tellest me, with pride, 
Hov/ nobly toiled thy mother, erst. 

That hers with her might all abide ; 

And foiled with widow's hands the worst 



60 THEE AND THINE. 

That fortune and false friends could do 
To break the circle of her home ; 

I glow with thee that she was true, 

And wish her bright, good years to come ! 



THINE. 



TO 



'T^HINE be a pride in that grand state, 

Where ruled thy kindred well ; 
And where may all thy kith and kin 
In peace and safety dwell. 

Thine be ambition high to keep 

Select thy father's name, 
Within the town thy father built, 

And where he built his fame ; 

Wherein mayst thou have during peace, 
Good gains, true friends and home ; 

And where, for thee, if days be dark, 
Be brighter days to come. 



62 THINE. 

Thine be that most selectest bliss 

Among the joys of earth, 
The blessed consciousness they have, 

Who honor work and worth. 

And find their words and timely deeds. 
From darkness and duress, 

Have cheered and led deserving men 
To sunlight and success ! 

Thine, then, shall be all earthly good ; 

For thee will constant shine 
Protecting stars, till death, and then 

May heavenly joys be thine. 



THEY MEET AGAIN. 

** T 'LL greet my old-time lover, 

Come, brother, drive away ; 
I '11 greet my old-time lover, 
On this most charming day ! 

" His home is in these landscapes 
Where we the season keep ; 
I know he'll greet me kindly ; 
But will we joy or weep ? 

" Ours be a pleasant meeting ; 
Our words be true and plain ; 
And I'll be wise and chary. 
To give his wife no pain. 



64 THEY MEET AGAIN. 

" Though sad and though unwedded, 
I'll be quite blithe to-day, 
And greet my old-time lover ; 
Come, brother, drive away ! " 

The roadsters knew their errand 
And grandly coursed along. 

As sweep the waves of music 
In a majestic song. 

And, at her brother's asking, 
One neared the carriage side. 

To greet his old-time sweetheart, 
Who had not been a bride. 

With earnest words, and wishes 
That were not spoken loud. 



THEY MEET AGAIN. 65 

And eyes a little tearful, 
And spirits far from proud ! 

They asked each other's welfare, 

Spoke of old scenes and new ; 
Referred to friends still living, 

And some beneath the yew ; 

Then bade adieu so bravely 

It was a scene to paint, 
Unmarred by foolish sighing 

Or plaint to match a plaint ! 

They wished each other blessing 

Through all the coming days ; 
And I, who sing, bespeak them 

Abundant cause for praise ! 



TOO MANY HEARTS ARE SAD TO-NIGHT." j 

'T^OO many hearts are sad, to-night, 
I may not dance to music light. 
They 're sad from hunger and from pain, 
And sad from sin's polluting stain. 
Low down in cellars, up the stairs, 
Where freely pass the winter airs ; 
'Neath wretched shed, and in the street, 
Where pelt the piercing storms of sleet. 
Are pallid cheeks, and sunken eyes, 
And forms that never more may rise. 

Too many hearts are sad to-night, 

I 

I cannot dance to music light, * 

But some will wake, if moved aright. 
To noble purpose and brave deed. 



"TOO MANY HEARTS ARE SAD TO-NIGHT." 6/ 

And nobly with their duty speed, 
Achieving full, complete success. 
While all the world, admiring, bless. 
All this, if, now, right words I say, 
While you and like companions gay 
In dizzy waltzing whirl away ! 
Too many hearts are sad to-night ; 
I will not dance to music light ! 



ANENT A FINE OLD TOWN. 

'THHIS fine shire town of Franklin, 

This Deerfield valley gem, 
This home of cultured people 

Has one thing to condemn, — 
The witching wine-cup curses 

With darkness and distress ; 
But honor's pledges, honored, 

Will brighten and will bless 
This charming town in Franklin, 

This Deerfield valley gem, 
Where dwell the grandest people — 



With one thing to condemn ! 



These workers for the people 
And servants of the Lord, 



ANENT A FINE OLD TOWN. 69 

To labor here in Franklin 

Good welcome we accord — 
Welcome to dear old Greenfield, 

This Deerfield valley gem, 
Where dwell the grandest people. 

With one thing to condemn ! 
Where with humane endeavor, 

Wise, earnest, and with hope. 
Shall be no more remaining 

The most accursed cup ! 

Then, in their noble mission, 

These servants of the Lord, 
To labor here in Franklin, 

Full welcome we accord — 
To raise and cheer the fallen, 

And point the way aright 



JO ANENT A FINE OLD TOWN. 

From bondage into freedom, 
From darkness to the light ; 

Until, in grand old Greenfield, 
This Deerfield valley gem. 

This home of worthy people. 



There 's nothing to condemn ! 



CONCERNING ONE YOU LOVE. 

A/OU ask me, sir, for stanzas 
Concerning one you love ; 
The angel of your home life. 
Companion and your dove ; 

An artist of rare merit, 

Yet versed in household cares ; 
Wise helpmeet, whose right counsel 

Well aids your own affairs ; 

A lady in whose presence 

Your heart is ever strong. 
And one you well might reckon 



Above the highest song ! 



'J2 CONCERNING ONE YOU LOVE, 

So, then, as you have deemed me 
Sufficient for the task, 

I speak her worth in numbers, 
As you were kind to ask ; 

And wish her skill as artist 
Bring praise and good reward, 

And both your lives be guarded 
By angels of the Lord. 



THE SPECIAL CHARGE. 

A BIBLE SCHOOL our special charge, 
Wherein the little and the large, 
Shall sweetest truths of Scripture learn ; 
Do greatest work, nor smallest spurn ; 
But deem it ever pleasant lot, 
To gather in from hall and cot. 
From way-side stroll, or nursery door, 
The children of the rich and poor, 
And teach them, from the gospel word. 
The record of the blessed Lord, 
Who came to earth and took our dust. 
And died, to give us chance to trust. 
No bashful boy outside our door, 
Shall weep that no one prizes more — 



74 THE SPECIAL CHARGE. 

That none ask him to come within 
The walls designed to fence out sin. 
We welcome each, and welcome all, 
And at the joy-inspiring call. 
Of mellow bell on Sabbath morn, 
When brightest smiles his face adorn, 
And at the eve, and through the week. 
Each teacher will for learners seek, 
And seek them gladly, grandly, too, 
As angels highest errands do ! 



THE GOOD-BYE. 

A FRIEND, well wed, and happy now 
As when he took a husband's vow, 
Gives noble sanction to my verse, 
In asking that my pen rehearse 
A message, daily growing dear. 
Of olden love, and faith, and fear. 
Would all who love were wise as he 
Who speaks these tender thoughts to me, 
And true mate won with him to dwell 
By grandly saying, thus, farewell ! 
*' Good-bye dear girl ; a kind good-bye ; 
I cannot tell the reason why 
Thou canst refuse to bless my heart, 
And hope and cheerfulness impart. 



^6 THE GOOD-BYE. 

Why is it thus ? why must it be ? 
That I no more may hope for thee. 
Nay, 'tis not thus ; God rules not so ; 
How adverse earth, what winds do blow, 
Still, for each one, He rules o'er all, 
Who sees the wounded sparrow fall. 
He sends as often joy as grief. 
And for each woe vouchsafes relief ; 
Designs, and brings, each dreaded ill, 
With sweetest joy our cup to fill. 
In this dear, trying, school of love 
Dissent, perchance, is meant to prove 
How much I love thee, and how well ; 
So thou thy heart may wisely tell. 
This being so, no more good-bye ; 
Love brings me faith that tells me why ; 
A blessed, high, perennial trust, 
In thee as true, and God as just." 



WISELY KIND. 

A CCEPT, true lady, kind and wise, 
From me a grateful line, 
Inscribed, in heartfelt praise, to worth 
And noble deeds of thine. 

Sincere thy words, and fitly said ; 

They guide, encourage, cheer ; 
Dispel the darkness of defeat, 

With hope displacing fear. 

Some kindnesses are burdensome, 
And are designed as debts ; 

Not thine, the favors which, bestowed, 
He who receives, regrets. 



78 WISELY KIND. 

Like pleasant rain thy blessings come, 

Refreshing as the dew ; 
Delightful as the morning sun, 

Or as the upper blue. 

Ah ! faithful friend, how fair the earth, 

In every clime would be, 
Did all possess and practice, too, 

Unselfishness like thee. 



INTO THE SUNSHINE. 

'T^O faith's clear sunshine, for rehef, 

Let us lead all the sons of grief ; 
Into the sunshine for relief ; 



From out the dark of doubt's deep night 
Away to faith's clear morning light, 
Out of the dark of doubt's deep night. 

Into the sunshine, with a song ; 
Their cold hands take, and lead along, 
Into the sunshine with a song ! 

Give them the sunshine of your trust ; 
If they have joy you surely must 
Bestow the sunshine of your trust. 



80 INTO THE SUNSHINE. 

There in that sunshine give them bloom ; 
For roses there is always room, 
And in this sunshine roses bloom. 

Live in the sunshine while you live, 
To all the sad your sunshine give, 
Live in sweet sunshine while you live. 

Into the sunshine, when you die. 
Into glad sunshine of the sky ; 
Into God's sunshine when you die ! 



ALWAYS WITH THEE. 

T N sunny days of childhood playing, 

When life was all one scene of Maying, 
And thou hadst not a thought of straying, 
God blessed thee then. 

Forgiving all thy youthful sinning, 
He helped thee to a manly winning 
Good triumphs o'er a bad beginning, 
And helps thee still. 

That in the strife which ceaseth never, 
Demanding watch and warring ever. 
Thou do, by manliest endeavor, 
The victor be. 



THE BRIGHT BELIEF. 

T F sore discouraged and distressed, 

With sorrows and with cares oppressed, 
And sins confessed, and unconfessed. 
And every ill, 

The heart were struggling for relief, 
And found no succor from its grief. 
In buoyant trust, and bright belief, — 
How sad the earth ! 

But rules reverse of these obtain, 
Nor mortal suffered yet in vain, 
A trivial, nor the largest pain, 
Nor ever will. 



THE BRIGHT BELIEF. S^ 

So let the troubled take new heart, 
Learn well of suffering the art, 
Nor shun to share a generous part 
In life's good griefs ! 

The saddest his of all estates, 
And slave is he to dreadest fates. 
And farthest he from heavenly gates. 
Whom doubt doth rule ! 

But, sad one, if thou triest to trust, 
In spite of all earth's dark and dust, — 
Though midst them living, as thou must, — 
Thou liv'st above, — * 

Then fiends that strive shall strive in vain 
Control of thy good soul to gain. 



84 THE BRIGHT BELIEF. 

And Hope, true angel, for thee deign 
Her constant aid. 

For none hath God the tender care 
He ever shows for those who bear 
Of life's worst woes abundant share. 
Enduring well. 

Enduring gives the power t' endure, 
With skill to make life's troubles fewer, 
And suffering makes the sufferer pure,— 
So welcome ill. 

Bright after clouds there comes the sun, 
And sweetest rest when work is done, 
True peace is but by warring won, — 
True wealth by toil ! 



THE BRIGHT BELIEF. 85 

How blessed is this bright behef, 
That joy which cometh after grief, 
Is sweetest joy, and is not brief, 
Like other joys ! 

Inspiring, grand and true the thought, 
That bhss by bitter trials bought, 
Is nearer unto heaven than aught 
On earth beside ! 



THE NEW JOY. 

'\^ flTH sincerest gladness, 

Turn thou from thy sadness, 
Which caused almost madness. 
And sing for joy. 

Cease, hero, thy grieving ; 
Begin the retrieving ; 
Thy works and believing 

Shall make thee strong. 

Thy trial completed. 
Where thou wast defeated 
To thee shalt be meted 

Earth's noblest praise. 



TRIED AND TRUE. 

r~\ GIVEN by fiends the gall to drink, 

And sweeter grown for all they send, 
A kind and watchful Providence 

Will soon proclaim the ordeal's end ; 
Yet call thee not from earth above, 

But ask thee, wearied one, take rest ; 
And that thy restless eyes may close. 

Command that from the roseate west 
Angels reposeful influence sweet 

Pour forth, to give thy spirit calm, 
And others send, on zephyrs borne, 

To soothe thy troubled heart with balm. 

Angelic ones shall sentinel 

Thy rest, and fragrance waft, till day, 



88 TRIED AND TRUE. 

Shall brightly break and bid thee, glad, 

Thy grateful orisons to pay ; 
Refreshed, inhale the ambrosial air 

And walk beneath a happy sky, 
Inspired, by carol of the birds 

And songs of brooks that murmur by, 
With faith that heaven will bless thy days. 

Each westering sun bring peaceful sleep. 
And every morn new evidence 

That angels tender watch-care keep ! 

Heroic sufferer, who hast borne 
The burden of a broken heart, 

Patiently, artlessly, and yet 
With all the dignity of art, 

While so intent to bless the world 

None knew what woes thy own heart had- 



TRIED AND TRUE. 89 

Deep, bitter griefs, which, told above, 
Would make the heavenly singers sad, — 

Soon shalt thou learn the gracious truth, 
Through griefs and cares which here annoy, 

Heaven builds the path by which thy feet 
Shall reach the highest hills of joy ! 



A TRIBUTE. 

/^ THOUGHT supreme of grand delight ! 

My country's bards have said 
That words which my poor pen has traced 

Are worthy to be read ! 
And he who rules Columbia's realm 

Has given his bright name, 
To tell the world a song of mine 

Is not unworthy fame ! 

With rhythmic record of these joys 

This truth, ye friends of mine, 
Had ye not been the friends ye are, 

I had not penned a line 



A TRIBUTE. 91 

Which could command the hearty praise 

Those high-born singers give 
For numbers brief of mine that tell 

The harmonies ye live. 

And thou, true friend of other days, 

And true through all these years 
Of Fortune's oft recurring frowns, 

And varied hopes and fears. 
Had I, in this grand hour, the harp 

On which in rapture hung 
The men who heard when that great bard, 

Sublimest Milton sung, 

Then might I dare to try to sing. 

In fitting terms of praise, 
Thou man of high and sterling worth, 

The grandeur of thy ways, 



92 A TRIBUTE. 

And goodness of thy heart sincere, 
Whose faith will make sublime 

Such words as even I can bring 
To speak of thee in rhyme ! 

Accept, selectest man I know, 

Who met my sadder years, 
And all unmindful of thy griefs, 

Was mindful of my tears ; 
Whose kindness, when but few were kind, 

And noble gentleness. 
Came so refreshingly to me, 

And royally did bless ; 

Accept the gratitude, too small, 

My heart would offer thee, 
For thine example and thine aid 

So freely granted me ; 



A TRIBUTE. 93 

The heartiest words and kindest deeds, 

So wisely, freely given, 
Imparting to my bitterest hours 

A foretaste of my heaven. 

Once, scorned by those whom I had blest, ' 

And doubted for my trust, 
My pleasant plans were broken all, 

My hopes were in the dust. 
Then thou didst cheer me — blessed hour ! 

And sacred be the spot 
When earth's iofnoble men are both 



Forgiven and forgot ! 



NOTICE 



It was natural that the press of the Connecticut Valley and vicinity 
should be first to hear of the fact of a new book by the author thus 
mentioned : 

The friends of Mr. Aella Greene of Springfield, Mass. rejoice with him in the well 
merited encomiums which crown his muse with the fadeless wreath. Two of his happi- 
est productions are characterized by Whittier as possessing " a true feeling of poetry 
and much rhythmical felicity." Three other Amercian poets of national fame bear 
emphatic testimony to the high character of these productions, and four of our most 
distinguished college presidents— Rev. Dr. Mark Hopkins among the number— accord 
to thisauthor his deserved meed of praise. The chair of literature in a Scotch university 
contributes to his crown of rejoicing, and, mingling with these tenderly treasured en- 
comiums, are the congratulations of governors, statesmen and divines, who refer to them, 
in so many words, as " above all price." Only a few of Mr. Greene's personal friends 
have hitherto known of the honors accorded to his muse, and the facts are just getting 
beyond that circle. It is whispered that a new volume of poems Is soon to be issued 
containing the gems that have won for him so great and such deserved approbation. 
— The Household. 

Rumor has It that Aella Greene, a poet of renown in this valley, will soon issue anew 
volume of poems. Not a few very complimentary things have been said by poets 
known the world over and by our foremost literary men concerning some of Mr. 
Greene's poems. Mr. Whittier terms them "very happy." May the muse of this poet 
of our valley long continue to sing. — Greenfield Gazette. 

Aella Greene is about to issue a new book of poems which will undoubtedly have 
warm welcome from the public. — Berkshire Courier. 

The poems of Aella Greene most faithfully embody the genuine spirit of New Eng- 
land country life. — New England Homestead. 

Poems of decided merit. — Hatnpshire Gazette. 

Mr Greene's poems have a beauty and truthfulness which make them popular.— 
Holyoke Herald. 

Mr. Greene has a real poetic vein. — Springfield Republican. 

In addition to the full half hundred clergymen scattered throughout New England 
and New York who have admired and wished a hearty God-speed to the new volume 
oi poems by Mr. Aella Greene, a gentleman of no less note than the illustrious James 
A. Garfield, a scholar of exquisite taste as well as a statesman, has expressed his de- 



96 NOTICE. 



light with several of the poems, especially one of the crowning gems of the work, 
" Where the Noble have their Country." In justice to the talented author, it should 
be stated that the various testimonials referring to the worth of his poems have been 
spontaneous, each one having been accorded independently of all the others. We 
happen to know that there are other testimonials, from some of the brightest men in 
American literature, in praise of Mr. Greene's verse, of which the world knows noth- 
ing. — Vermont Paper. 

Concerning Mr. Aella Greene's previous venture in verse, "Rhymes 
of Yankee Land," a book noting persons and incidents in the valley 
threaded by the Connecticut River road and bright with the shining 
waters of the '* sweetest stream that flows," there were many praise- 
f ul words from press and people ; and the book ran through several 
editions, and became known far beyond the New England section of 
America, whose homes and hills furnished the originals of the charac- 
ters and scenes. A journal in the Mississippi valley said of the book : 
" It sings as charmingly as a bird in the forest the sweet carols of every 
day life." An Illinois journal found "sketches by a master hand," and 
the Battle Creek, Mich. Journal noted in the poems a "rare rhythmical 
beauty," words which remind of what, eight years later, one of Ameri- 
ca's bards of world wide fame said of Mr. Greene's efforts. The 
Springfield Republican thought it " creditable to Mr. Greene that, in an 
imitative age, when every singer has more or less of the mocking bird, 
he has held fast to his own experience and his own arrangement of 
metres and tropes." The Congregationalist spoke thus: "Of all the 
New England friends to whom the volume is dedicated there cannot be 
one who will not be gratified with the contents." It was the St. Johns- 
bury, Vt., Caledonian that found the utterances fitted to "lighten care 
and brighten life ; " the Adams Transcript found the book to " over- 
flow with the life of the farm, the school and the meeting-house ; " and 
the Providence Journal characterized the work as "unique, original and 
truthful." The St. Albans, Vt., Messenger remarked : " Mr. Greene 
knows how to dispense with superfluity, and his poems, severely simple 
and strictly true in thought and utterance, show genius and care, and 
breathe upon us the pure atmosphere of industrious, cultivated New 
England." The Berkshire Eagle discovered in the book "merit of a 
high order," and thirty other journals spoke in the same strain. 



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